Tech in Sight Executive Roundtable: Cyber Secure Devices in Med-Tech
Securing the Future of Med-Tech: ICA Hosts Roundtable on Cybersecurity in Healthcare
Innovation Central Adelaide (ICA) was pleased to host the Tech in Sight Executive Roundtable: Cyber Secure Devices in Med-Tech on 11 June 2025 at Flinders Festival Towers. This critical gathering brought together leaders and subject matter experts from across the cybersecurity, med-tech, and digital health sectors to explore the future of secure healthcare technologies and the challenges that come with an increasingly connected clinical landscape.
Why This Matters
The rise of digital and data-connected medical devices has created unprecedented opportunities for improving patient outcomes and streamlining healthcare systems. However, with this advancement comes heightened vulnerability. Legacy software, fragmented data protocols, and inadequate maintenance practices have exposed med-tech systems to a growing surface of cyber threats. This roundtable was designed to address those concerns directly—fostering dialogue on practical strategies for embedding cybersecurity across the entire lifecycle of medical technologies, from design and implementation to end-of-use decommissioning.
Who Was in the Room
Guided by Professor Trish Williams, Cisco Research Chair and Professor in Digital Health Systems at Flinders University, the roundtable facilitated deep discussion on real-world scenarios, research applications, and collaborative pathways. Professor Williams is globally recognised for her leadership in health informatics and cybersecurity, and her expertise framed the event’s key themes.
Participants included:
- Specialists in cybersecurity from both healthcare and IT sectors
- Device manufacturers and med-tech innovators
- Researchers and policy advisors
- Members of the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN)
- Representatives from Flinders University’s Medical Device Research Institute (MDRI)
Special thanks to our host, PVC Fabiana Santana MAICD, for creating space for this strategic dialogue and contributing to the research lens behind the discussion.
Key Insights
The roundtable revealed a spectrum of critical perspectives and actionable insights. Some of the key themes included:
- Cybersecurity is now a fundamental component of patient safety and healthcare operations
- Greater consistency is needed around compliance frameworks and international standards
- Medical device maintenance and end-of-life planning must include cyber risk mitigation
- Human factors, culture, training, and communication, play an essential role in security
- Economic pressures can hinder innovation unless cyber resilience is prioritised
- Clear lines of accountability and ownership are crucial across development cycles
- Cybersecurity must be integrated into the design phase, not added retrospectively
- AI-powered anomaly detection holds promise but depends on reliable data foundations
Professor Williams noted, “We must treat cyber resilience with the same urgency as infection control or device sterilisation,” underscoring the importance of rethinking cybersecurity as a clinical responsibility rather than a technical afterthought.
What’s Next
The insights generated during the roundtable will inform an issues paper currently in development, a resource intended to guide policy, research, and implementation strategies across government, industry, and academia. ICA is committed to advancing this work, ensuring that future med-tech solutions are secure by design and inclusive in practice.
If you or your organisation are working in med-tech, digital health, or cybersecurity, and wish to be part of future Tech in Sight conversations, please contact Kathryn Anderson at: kathryn.anderson@flinders.edu.au.
Let’s continue building a safer, smarter healthcare ecosystem together. Follow Innovation Central Adelaide on LinkedIn for upcoming roundtables, collaborative opportunities, and impact-driven innovation.
